Saturday, Dec. 12 -- Noon
Rynearson Stadium - Ypsilanti, MI
ESPN 3
A big challenge for NIU will be stopping the Eagles offense. EMU is averaging 31.6 points per game and broke out for 53 points in last week's win over Western. With Northern's offense averaging 23.2 ppg and allowing 38.2, the Huskies defense will need to step up.
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Northern Illinois holds a 33-15-2 advantage in the all-time series. The Huskies have also emerged victorious in 17 of the last 19 meetings. However, Eastern Michigan stopped an 11-game slide with a win at Huskie Stadium last year.
Eastern Michigan used a 24-point third quarter to break open a 14-7 game en route to a 45-17 win over NIU on Tuesday, November 19, 2019. Leading 14-7, Eastern Michigan scored on each of its first three possessions of the third quarter to build a 31-10 advantage. After quarterback Mike Glass led the Eagles on a nine-play 75-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, a pair of Huskie turnovers led to EMU’s next 10 points and a 38-10 lead.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (0- 5)
>> The Huskies have the second-youngest roster in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with underclassmen making up 73 percent (81 of 111) of the 2020 roster. Thirteen different freshmen have started at least two games for NIU this season, including 10 true freshmen. Of the 46 names on NIU’s two-deep on offense and defense this week, 25 are freshmen, including 17 true freshmen and eight redshirt.
>> Last week, Toledo scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to earn a 41- 24 victory over NIU at Huskie Stadium Saturday in the Huskies’ home finale. NIU and Toledo split 48 points in an offensive first half that included 651 combined yards of total offense.
After a scoreless third quarter, UT took a 27-24 lead at the 11:31 mark of the fourth quarter and added a pair of touchdowns in the final five minutes to claim the win.
>> NIU TB Harrison Waylee recorded his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game with 114 yards on 19 carries and a score against UT.
>> Tyrice Richie recorded his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the season versus Toledo with 111 yards on seven catches to become just the eighth player in NIU history to have four or more 100-yard receiving games in a season, and the first since Kenny Golladay in 2016 (and 2015). Richie has reached the 100-yard threshold in five games played, the fewest games of any player in school history. The senior is the first NIU player since Darrell Hill in 2001 to post three consecutive 100- yard receiving games.
>> Cornerback Jordan Gandy tied a 17-year-old school record with five pass break ups at Western Michigan and his 1.6 passes defended per game (PBUs + INTs) lead the MAC and are tied for second in the FBS. He leads the Huskies in tackles.
>> Safety Devin Lafayette had a break out game versus Toledo as he led NIU with 13 tackles, the second-highest total by a Huskie this year, and snagged his first career interception.
EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-4)
>> While EMU lost its first four games, it finished with eight points in all but one of those games.
>> QB Preston Hutchinson played a big part in putting the Eagles over the top for their first victory. He completed 19-of-30 passes for 315 yards with three TDs and no picks.
>> Freshman running back Darius Boone Jr. had a breakout game on the ground against Western Michigan, Dec. 5. The Tulsa, Okla. native rushed for a career-best 148 yards on 25 attempts, and scored his first collegiate touchdown along the way
>> Junior Hassan Beydoun registered seven catches for 96 yards against WMU.
>> For the first time in Eastern Michigan University football history, all three weekly awards from the Mid-American Conference headed to Ypsilanti, Dec. 7. EMU junior quarterback Preston Hutchinson as named the MAC West Division Offensive Co-Player of the Week with Ball State’s Drew Plitt, while sophomore defensive end Jose Ramirez was selected as the MAC West Defensive Player of the Week. Additionally, junior kicker Chad Ryland collected MAC West Division Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
>> The EMU defense has been successful at forcing turnovers throughout the team’s first five games this season. Eastern has recovered eight fumbles and has three interceptions thus far, which ranks second and fifth in the conference, respectively. EMU’s most recent outing, against Western Michigan, Dec. 5, saw the team recover three fumbles, including two on back-to-back possessions for the first time this year